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“No, it’ll be great. Home track advantage is a big thing, and it’s great that David Hayes and the owners are bringing Ka Ying Rising out. It’s going to be an awesome day.
“We’ve got a worthy contender.”
The win was part of a $1 million feature race double for the Waller-McDonald combination after the victory of Fangirl in the 7 Stakes.
James McDonald saluted on Fangirl on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
The show goes on for Fangirl
Chris Waller came to Randwick on Saturday thinking Fangirl could be racing for the last time before heading to the broodmare barn.
A stirring finish under James McDonald to run down stablemate Lindermann by a nose not only gave the star mare back-to-back 7 Stakes (1600m) wins, but ensured she will race on for another season.
The seven-year-old mare, a Randwick mile specialist, was coming off a rare failure when four-lengths fourth in the group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
“Today could have been her last race,” Waller said.
“It’s breeding season, so I thought about it coming here. She needed to run well, otherwise ... but she’s done enough.”
Waller said Fangirl, which took her earnings past $10.6 million for Ingham Racing, would now carry on to the $5 million King Charles III Stakes at Randwick on October 18.
He said she would be kept fresh with a trial in between. She was a $3.80 second elect for the King Charles behind stablemate Autumn Glow ($3).
Tommy Berry and Apocalyptic combined well at Randwick.Credit: Getty Images
Berry lauds ‘special’ Apocalyptic
Tommy Berry said he hadn’t previously ridden a filly like Michael Freedman-trained Apocalyptic after she backed up a slashing win in the Furious Stakes (1200m) with another powerhouse victory, off a tougher run, in the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.
Stuck three wide without cover for much of the trip from a sticky draw in eight, Apocalyptic was still able to round up her rivals late for a one-and-three-quarter-length win over Artistic Venture.
The performance more than made up for the scratching of Gringotts and Marhoona on the day for Berry, who was returning from suspension. Apocalyptic was into a $2.20 favourite for the final leg of the Princess Series, the group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m).
“It was pretty special today,” Berry said.
“The worst place we can be is three deep, no cover, but I said to Michael, I don’t know if that’s the worst place we can be because she’s got such a big stride, and she just really wants to use that action.
“The part I liked the most was when I got cover, it was only for 150 metres, but she switched off straight away, whereas in the run without cover, in the wind, she wanted to over do it a touch.
“But I don’t think there’s any query about her running a mile. That last furlong, she was proper; she just floated along. You don’t get that feeling very often.
“The Anthony Cummings filly I won the Oaks on [She’s Extreme] was a lovely filly, but this one has got a bit more brilliance and presence about her. I haven’t ridden one like her, that can do a bit of everything.”
Alysha Collett scored a win on With Your Blessing. Credit: Getty Images
Thompson on the hunt
Randwick trainer John Thompson was looking to the $1 million The Hunter (1300m) with seven-year-old With Your Blessing in November after he scored a first stakes race win in the group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick.
Alysha Collett rated With Your Blessing perfectly out in front in the 10-horse field to hold off Bosustow late by a neck.
The victory followed a second to Lazzura in the Show County Quality and third behind Pericles and Private Eye in the Tramway.
“We knew he’d run well, it was a good run the other day [when third in the Tramway].”
Kerrin McEvoy and Birdman in action at Randwick.Credit: Getty Images
Birdman finally lands an Australian win
The group 1 Metropolitan and a cups campaign were on the cards for Birdman after the Chris Waller-trained import broke through at his eighth Australian start with a thrilling finish in the group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m).
Birdman, an Irish-bred five-year-old, surged through a gap under Kerrin McEvoy at the 250m mark and went almost a length ahead of Adelaide River before the Kris Lees-trained import cut the final margin to a nose.
“He’s just steadily been working towards something, but he needed to, he needed to start doing it,” Waller said.
“He’s heading the right way towards the cups that’s what he was brought for a year out, and it’s coming together nicely for him.”
Birdman was into a $4.50 Sportsbet favourite for the Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 4.
Petticoat scores timely victory
Coffs Harbour trainer Brett Dodson hoped Petticoat was on the radar now for the final Kosciuszko (1200m) slot, or as a potential replacement, after a timely Highway Handicap win at Randwick on Saturday.
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Petticoat made the most of an inside draw to hold off favourite Social Circle, which was on show for a spot in the $2 million Kosciuszko on October 18, by a half-length in her first Highway attempt.
First-up over 1000m in the class 3, Petticoat pulled off a long-term plan for Dodson with Tommy Berry aboard.
“She will run 1200, she has before, running well at Doomben,” Dodson said.
“She’s got good tactical speed, she handles all sorts of tracks. When I looked at the noms, with one slot left, I thought they will have to be watching this race, it’s such a strong race. And she was first-up, so she’s got improvement.”
